To mark the occasion, Valve is discounting numerous titles through Steam until December 10. Deals include Limbo for $2.50, Alan Wake for $7.50, and Left 4 Dead 2 and Portal 2 for $5. For more on the special promotion, check out Steam's website.

To access Big Picture, players will need to connect their dedicated PC or Mac, laptop, or desktop computer to a high-definition television with an HDMI or VGA cable. Users will need Windows Vista or later to run Big Picture, as well as 1GB of RAM. For the full system specification requirements, check out the official page.

Steam users can play their games with either a keyboard and mouse or controller. Additionally, Big Picture adds a first-person Web browser, which Valve calls the first of its kind.

Further, Steam's Big Picture features a "Daisywheel" for typing messages and surfing the Internet with a controller. Valve says the traditional QWERTY setup works best for keyboards, with the new interface more finely tuned for use with a controller.

So let me get this strait... steam is going to render pc games on server farms then use a minimal content delivery for viewing and controls.... how can a xbox or ps3 compete with that ..no wheres near the gfx and physx capibilities let alone the whole pc multiplayer end for bf3 and the cod junkies...

Again, why the freaking hell would anyone use a game pad in steam? Sure you might want to play an FPS but you can pick up the pad after launching the game, or pick up the keyboard to chat, there really is no benefit, obvious or discreet that warrants demands this extension of functionality.Valve, why not try making some new goddamn games or toppling EA? Leave the pointless apps and extensions to indie devs.

I tried it out during the trial. I still use the regular mode, but I only wish 360 or PS3 had such a fast, user friendly and attractive UI (although PS3's come close as far as attractiveness, at least). I may switch to using it now, it doesn't punish you for having a keyboard and I play all of my steam games with a PS3 controller nowadays anyway, so it's a great feature.

Just tried it last night. I use KB+M and Xbox controller for my steam games so its good that you don't have to change between both if you want to browse steam while using the controller. XBL and PSN were not half as appealling or user friendly at launch than this is.

I've been enjoying it since the beta. Being able to play full 1080p PC games on my TV has always been an easy task but this makes it easier and more convenient. No real reason to own a console except for overhyped, low-res exclusives. Far Cry 3 console gamers, eat your heart out :P

Hooking up a computer to a TV is something that has been able to do for years now. And hasn't the ability to use console controlers on a computer been around for quite a few years as well? Is this something that needs to be baught or download....for something that can already be done?

To all you STEAM users out there check out humblebundle.com, if you dontate $5.75 or more you get 7 STEAM games, Saints Row 3, Red Faction Armogeden, Metro 2033, Darksiders, and 3 Company of Heroes games, no shittin I just did it yesterday, and 3 of my friends did it too.

Anyone getting the feeling Valve may be getting ready for a console entry of their own? I would welcome the extra competition, especially if they managed to make a plausible all digital console (I'd love to be able to transfer my steam library to my living room.)

Basicly it just makes the steam interface more like a console interface, not bad if you like using a controller. I have my PC hooked up to my 47" TV and actually like the regualar interface just fine using the keyboard and mouse, of course I have a wireless keyboard and mouse set up on a modified "TV tray" while sitting in a computer chair, but for people sitting on their couch that have a pc xbox wireless dongle this is excellent. And yes I have tried it with the controller, and it does defiantly turn steam into a console like experience.

I HOPE MICROSOFT AND SONY ABANDON THEIR CONSOLE AND CONTRACTS WITH THE PLATFORM RELEASES AND FOCUS ON STEAM BIG PICTURES LIKE MOVE THE KINECT TO THE STEAM AND SONY MOVE WERE THEY WILL HAVE A BIG ADVANTAGE ON THE PC SINCE THERES LIMITATION ON THE CONSOLES PC WILL OPEN MORE DOORS FOR GAMES ON THE PC THAN CONSOLE ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS DESIGN PC MEANT FOR GAMING UNDER THEIR NAMES CAN BE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS PC OR OVER PRICE PC LIKE ALIEN WARE OR PC THAT ARE CUSTOM BUILT LIKE ME MY PC I BUILT IT WITH MY HANDS PUT IT TOGETHER LIKE A PUZZLE AND FAR CHEAPER THEN BUYING ONE ALREADY BUILT AND PRICEY MY CUSTOM PC IS COMPARED TO AN ALIEN WARE PC.

BIG PICTURE IS MEANT TO DRAW CONSOLE PLAYERS AND FOR PC PLAYERS THAT WANT TO FEEL THE COMFORT OF COUCH SITTING WITH CONTROLLERS BOTH WAYS TO PLAY PLUS FREE ONLINE SERVICES OF GAMES AND FAR SUPERIOR GRAPHICS AND GAMEPLAY.

PS. NO MORE WATING OUTSIDE OF GAMESTOP BE AT HOME SLEEPING OR EATING, WATCHING MOVIES WHILE YOU WAIT FOR PREORDER GAMES, HALF PRICE GAMES ON HOLIDAYS OR WEEKLY.

I really enjoy this update, messed with it today and the only thing that was buggy , was when i loged into FB it would crash steam( you can log in through steam), but i like how you can go in and play games and look up stuff about games better almost like PS3 or xbox, lol but still looks better :p

It works on Linux too, just not officially yet lol. I'm saving up money to invest in a gaming PC instead one of the next gen consoles, in the long run I know I'll end up saving money on overpriced software and be supporting companies I actually like instead of the big three. I'm sick of them at this point.

For me, I start up steam big picture, plug in my hdmi cable to my living room set, grab my controller and walk into the living room without the keyboard and mouse. Then the big picture works like a console GUI.

@Codzprc Who said we haven't? We have played with that resolution for ages now, and some lucky people have been enjoying better resolutions already.

And don't forget that some games like Civilization V for example is more playable by sitting front of yor monitor. Computer displays still have better image than those TVs, no matter what resolutions they have.

@cbeck002 I don't think so. They are bringing Steam to even Linux now. They are expanding the system base not vice versa. Maybe they are bringing all digita Steam console, but I highly doubt and hope it's not going to be mandatory.

@Daian Lets be real for a second m&k are only better for fps and rts genres really. If you're playing a third person shooter where the camera is independent of the aiming (pretty much everything but the mass effect series) or a racing game, a controller is a far better option.

It always rubs me the wrong way when people say m&k are superior. I think it's mostly because I have a friend that refuses to play any of the need for speed games (the good criterion ones) or burnout paradise on anything but a keyboard and I think he's crazy.

@Daian I know it's a hassle, but you could always set up a desk in front of the tv to use the mouse and keyboard. Though personally, screen size isn't a huge factor so I probably wouldn't do it myself.

@snaketus it depends what computer monitor you have. My main monitor is crap and is nowhere near my TV in regards to color, contrast or brightness. My secondary monitor however could definitely rival it but I can't tell for sure if it's better.

@snaketus What I'm really surprised at is that Big Picture may be a new concept for some, like the idea never crossed their mind. I'd be baffled. I know, because I do play on higher res monitors and bigassed 1080p TVs - hell, even 720s look amazing. I understand Valve wanting to show off their new... new? Is it new if loads of people have been doing it for years? Whatever, "new" service, but I guess I'm jaded since it seems like a lot of hype over what (I and what I imagine) most people already do, yourself included. I'd like to restate my main gripe: Dreamcast had the same web browser, but without a reticle icon. I'd like to hear from Big Picture users that still have their Dreamcasts and compare the two, from an objectively basic functionality standpoint (navigation, UI, UX, keep in mind tabs didn't exist, ect...)

@Icepick_Trotter@snaketus If you like the look of Windows, then yeah, they have. Aesthetics are subjective, are we going to argue your favorite color next?As for the console-like aspect, what makes any console navigation better than a PC/Mac interface? You could argue that it's streamlined to do certain tasks, and I'd point out that Spotlight's (Mac) live seach results can find and open applications faster than you can navigate to Netflix of your Xbox. Your desktop can be filled with shortcuts to your favorite games, applications, webpages... on and on. Fully customizable, tailored to your favorite things to do, uncensored backgrounds if that's your thing, endless game options, infinitely expandable harddrive, stream movies, download anything - I can pause a game, open a PSD to make a change, email it off and go back to playing - with a MS gamepad. Maybe you're not using your computer properly....admittedly, I do 90% of my gaming via xbox, but my PC setup is pretty sweet. Addicted to Gamerscore.